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All Rise...

Judge Victor Valdivia agrees the boys are indeed back in town. But what can he possibly do about it?

The Charge

Captures Thin Lizzy at their very best.

The Case

Sadly, that's not exactly the case. Thin Lizzy remains one of the best and
most underappreciated hard-rock bands of the '70s, but, sorry to say, this
performance does not capture them at the peak of their formidable powers. There
are still plenty of great moments that make this a good DVD for fans, but for
newcomers it's not quite the best introduction to Thin Lizzy's talents.

Are You Ready? was filmed in 1981 in Lorelei, Germany and aired on
German TV as part of the Rockpalast series. Here is the setlist:

Much of the problem is that the early '80s were not a golden time for Thin
Lizzy. In the '70s, singer/songwriter/bassist Phil Lynott led the band into a
string of classic albums like Fighting (1975), Johnny the Fox
(1976), Bad Reputation (1977), and of course Jailbreak, the 1976
album that made them stars in America. By 1981, however, Lynott and his key
collaborator, guitarist Scott Gorham, were ensnared in debilitating drug
addictions, resulting in subpar albums like Chinatown (1980) and
Renegade (1981). Far too much of this concert is taken up by mediocre
filler from those albums, like "Angel of Death,"
"Hollywood," and "Genocide," instead of classic Thin Lizzy
staples like "The Rocker" and "Whiskey in the Jar."

The poorly chosen setlist isn't the only weakness. It's also painful to see
the toll that hard living has taken on Lynott and Gorham throughout the concert.
Both are uneven, with Gorham occasionally flubbing leads and Lynott sometimes
waning in energy considerably. This gives the show a patchy quality that makes
it go from thrilling to sloppy, sometimes within the same song. The other band
members are not enough to completely save the show. The addition of keyboardist
Darren Wharton is a mistake; he doesn't play that much and when he does, he
simply adds clutter instead of depth. Guitarist Snowy White, who had previously
played with Pink Floyd, is also a disappointment. He's a dexterous soloist but
his playing lacks the punch necessary for Thin Lizzy's brand of hard rock. Maybe
if Lynott had been in top form he could have whipped these musicians into a
solid band, but he isn't and the music suffers considerably.

Nonetheless, despite those flaws, it would be a mistake to completely
dismiss this DVD. Even though the performance isn't consistent, when it does
click it proves just why Thin Lizzy were one of the most revered and influential
bands of their era. The versions of "Jailbreak" and
"Suicide" are superb, because they're the moments when the band really
works together as a unit with all cylinders firing. "Waiting for an
Alibi" is the first song where the band really hits its stride, with some
of Lynott's best bass playing and some great solos by Gorham and White. Thin
Lizzy's twin guitar sound served as the inspiration for future hard rock and
metal bands like Iron Maiden, and while Gorham and White don't always make as
good a team as they could, when they do, they're stellar. One of their high
points is "Black Rose," when Gorham and White deliver some spectacular
guitar harmonies that turn the song into a gorgeous epic. It's the version of
"Got to Give It Up," however, that will really stun fans. Seeing
Lynott sing about a man's losing battle with alcohol only years before his own
tragic death from substance abuse in 1986 is one of the most shattering moments
ever captured. It's moments like these that make Are You Ready? a must
for fans. Unfortunately, the performance isn't as relentless as Thin Lizzy was
previously capable of in the past, so only fans will be able to overlook the
mistakes to get to the good parts.

Technically, the disc is frustrating. The 4:3 transfer doesn't look so
great. Even by early-'80s video standards, it's awfully grainy and fuzzy, and
almost every close-up of Lynott is marred by thick black bands that happen when
the video is overwhelmed by noise. The 5.1 mixes (both Dolby and DTS) are also a
letdown. They're not really very loud and the guitars sound rather thin. Eagle
Rock is usually very reliable with their 5.1 mixes, even with older material, so
it's possible there may have been some defects in the original recording. The
show isn't unwatchable, but it isn't up to Eagle Rock's usually high standards,
either. There are no extras.

Ultimately, though there are still several flashes of brilliance that make
this a must-have for Thin Lizzy fans, it's just not the place for newcomers to
discover the band. For that, start with either the Live and Dangerous
collection or the Greatest Hits DVD, both of which contain the band's
best songs in definitive performances. Phil Lynott is simply too valuable and
underrated a talent to ever be truly dismissed, and any performance of his is
worth seeing, but Are You Ready? is not one of his better concerts. Once
you've seen how great Thin Lizzy at their peak could be, however, you'll be more
able to appreciate the great moments seen here.